2 charged in shooting of Fullerton police officer

SANTA ANA – Prosecutors filed criminal charges Tuesday against a 29-year-old man who is suspected of shooting a Fullerton police officer and who was recently acquitted in a gang-related attempted-murder case.

Marcos Allen Bush was charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, shooting from a motor vehicle, assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, possession of a firearm by a felon and street terrorism, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office. He also faces three felony counts of shooting at a residence, and sentencing enhancements of criminal street-gang activity and the personal use and discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, according to the release.

Prosecutors say Bush is a documented gang member. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison. He is being held on a no-bail parole hold, according to the District Attorney's Office.

At about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, prosecutors say, Bush was driving in Fullerton with an unidentified passenger when he was pulled over for a traffic stop by the Fullerton police officer, who has not been identified.

According to the district attorney's account, the officer was looking into the car's dark-tinted windows, trying to determine how many people were inside, when Bush pulled out a firearm and shot him at point-blank range in the chest. Authorities said the officer was wearing a ballistic vest that stopped the bullet.

The officer stepped back and Bush fired out the window at the officer several more times, hitting him twice in the arm and once in the leg, the District Attorney's Office said. Bush also hit homes in the area, prosecutors said.

The officer fired two rounds as Bush sped away, according to the District Attorney's Office. Police have said they found no apparent damage to the vehicle from the rounds.

Later that day, Fullerton police found Bush at an Anaheim apartment, prosecutors said. Bush fled from officers and discarded a firearm with bullets as he ran, the District Attorney's Office said.

Bush was caught and arrested, and the recovered firearm and bullets will be tested for forensic evidence, prosecutors said.

About an hour after the shooting, the California Highway Patrol in Riverside spotted the car that fled and pulled it over, prosecutors said. They arrested Sjanee R. Duhart, 27. Prosecutors say she tried to get rid of the vehicle to help Bush avoid arrest.

Duhart was charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact and a sentencing enhancement of criminal street gang activity, the District Attorney's Office said. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Police are not releasing the officer's name, but said he is in good condition and in good spirits.

"His family has asked that we not identify him, so we're respecting his wishes at this time," said Fullerton police Sgt. Jeff Stuart. "He's alert and talking."

Police said the officer has been on the force for seven years.

Less than two weeks ago, Bush was found not guilty by a jury of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a firearm, carjacking and second-degree robbery. Bush claimed that there was no robbery plot and that he was trying to protect his girlfriend's teenage niece from being sexually assaulted, prosecutors said.

The investigation of the officer shooting is ongoing. As of Tuesday afternoon, an unidentified third person thought to have been in the car had not been located.

Anyone with additional information regarding the case or unidentified passenger is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Naran Chantanasombute at 714-347-8844 or Fullerton police at 714-738-6800.